Sanitary absorbent article assembly including an integrated disposal sheet

Abstract

The present invention relates to sanitary absorbent articles and in particular to a sanitary absorbent article assembly including an integrated disposal sheet for disposal of a soiled absorbent article.

1. A method of packaging, using and disposing of a sanitary article comprising the steps of:
 providing a sanitary article having a trifolded configuration prior to use, the sanitary article having a garment facing surface and an adhesive arranged on the garment facing surface for securing the sanitary article to an undergarment during use, the trifolded configuration defining a first end portion of the sanitary article, a second end portion of the sanitary article and an intermediate portion arranged between the first end portion and the second end portion; 
 providing a disposal sheet, the disposal sheet having folded configuration wherein the disposal sheet is attached to the garment facing surface and the disposal sheet extends over only a portion of the adhesive; 
 packaging the trifolded sanitary article and the disposal sheet in an overwrap for protecting the sanitary and disposal sheet prior to use; 
 removing the sanitary article from the overwrap; 
 arranging the sanitary article on a surface of an undergarment in an unfolded configuration such that the garment facing surface is arranged in surface to surface contact with the undergarment and the disposal sheet is arranged in intermediate relationship between the sanitary article and the undergarment; 
 removing the sanitary article from the undergarment when the sanitary article is in a soiled condition; 
 unfolding the disposal sheet from the folded configuration to a unfolded configuration wherein the disposal sheet in the unfolded configuration includes a first wall and a second wall arranged in opposed relationship to a outer surface of the first wall, and the disposal sheet includes a first portion that corresponds in location to the first end portion of the sanitary article, a second portion that corresponds in location to the second end portion of the sanitary article, and a third portion that corresponds in location with the intermediate portion of the sanitary article, the second wall being arranged in the first portion and having a length that does not extend beyond the first portion, the second wall and the first wall cooperating to define a pocket; 
 folding the first and second portions of the disposal sheet such that they are arranged in overlapping relationship relative to the third portion of the disposal sheet, the disposal sheet being folded while the correspond portions of the napkin are attached thereto such that the first and second end portions of the sanitary article are arranged in overlapping relationship relative to the intermediate portion of the sanitary article; 
 inverting the pocket to receive the folded sanitary article within the pocket. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disposal sheet in the folded configuration covers from about 1% to about 20% of the adhesive. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pocket has a sufficient volume to entirely receive the sanitary article within the pocket. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pocket has a sufficient volume to receive a sanitary article having a volume of about 1.5 times to about 5 times a volume of the sanitary article in a dry condition.